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Native Elders UN Statement to Save the Earth

THIS MESSAGE RECENTLY GIVEN TO THE UN BY OUR NATIVE ELDERS – WHAT IS NEEDED NOW TO SAVE ALL LIFE ON EARTH

Excerpts from the address of Chief Phil Lane, Jr, Chairperson of the Four Worlds International Institute to UN Secretary General, Javier Perez de Cuellar & the World Commission on Culture and Development

Very Respected Friends and Relatives,

I have complete faith that, together, we will be able to build a new world civilization. Drawing on the collective consciousness of countless previous generations, we have the divine capacity to resolve and heal all past grief, fear, hatred and broken trust, while building a just, sustainable and harmonious world that will fully realize the unlimited potential of the human family, both individually and collectively.

We are living in the days of the fulfillment of sacred prophecies. An Elder once told me, “Grandson, the longest road you will ever have to walk in your life is the sacred journey from your head to your heart.”

Countless centuries before the birth of our generations, the Ancient Ones gave us prophecies that clearly foretold these very days that we are living. This new Divine Springtime, that is unfolding with ever-increasing clarity. It is toward actualizing this long held vision of a new world civilization, founded in spiritual principles and values that I wish to share with you the innermost feelings and thoughts of my heart and mind.

In December 1982, on the high plains of Alberta, forty wise, respected and dedicated elders, spiritual leaders and community members from different tribal societies across North America came together for four days and nights of in-depth purposeful consultation. Our common purpose was to develop a wholistic model of human and community development, inspired and guided by organizing principles, values, strategies and processes of sustainable change, healing and development rooted deep in the Natural Laws that are at the inmost heart and core of tribal cultures throughout Mother Earth.

Before outlining the key guiding principles … it is important that we reflect briefly about those most critical and pressing challenges that must be addressed, if we are to survive as noble, just, compassionate, truthful and forgiving human beings and societies.

(1) Environmental destruction is increasing throughout our planet. Along with this increasing destruction, Indigenous peoples and their way of life are rapidly disappearing. Unless there is a dramatic change in our actions towards our sacred Mother Earth, humanity’s ultimate survival is more than doubtful.

(3) The world’s population is increasing by more than 92,000,000 human beings every year. In fact, if every human being who now lives on Mother Earth were able to experience the average economic status found in middle income homes in Canada and the US, we would need two more entire planets. Until we thoroughly understand the true meaning of respect for all life, the sacred relationship between women and men, and the spiritual purpose of our physical existence, we will continue to move towards worldwide disaster.

(4) Global economic competition is increasing. The current world economic system is spinning out of control despite the best efforts of our nation states to stabilize a system that no longer serves the needs of the human family. Instead of sovereignty, in its truest meaning, financial institutions of this world are attempting to manipulate and control our economic and social destiny for selfish purposes.

(5) The social and cultural disintegration of human beings and their communities is increasing with every passing day. Divorce, child sexual abuse, teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, family violence, abuse of women, violent crimes, suicide and other distinct signs of our increasing spiritual sickness are as clear as the midday sun. Only when we are able to understand and embrace one another as members of the same human family will we have an everlasting foundation for rebuilding our communities and the world.

As one of my grandfathers said to me, “You know grandson, the Great Spirit, Wakan Tanka, has given all people wisdom. Wakan Tanka also gave our Indigenous peoples, and all other human beings who live close to Mother Earth, knowledge and wisdom through dreams, visions, fasting, prayer, and the ability to see the lessons the Creator has put in every part of creation.

(6) Increasingly violating human rights As the old world order becomes more unstable, governments, in an effort to try and control the social and political disintegration process are. As these abuses increase, an ever greater number of people will react to them with greater violence; acts of violence not only against governments but between ethnic and racial groups as well. Only by providing positive alternatives to the destructive and inharmonious patterns of living will we be able to rebuild our families and communities. Without love and forgiveness for ourselves and others we will be unable to heal the age old fear, mistrust, greed, selfishness and hatred that is destroying the innermost heart of the human family.

(7) Terrorism and random acts of violence will increase dramatically. This movement of disintegration will continue until the ancient teachings found at the heart of all living cultures and spiritual traditions that teach us how to live in harmony and balance with all life are once again alive. We have a critical decision before us. Will we continue to walk the path of hatred and revenge or will we choose to walk the path of healing? Each has their clear consequences. As the spiritual greatness of our tribal peoples returns with greater and greater strength, it is clear to see that we are choosing the sacred path of healing, the path foretold in our ancient prophecies.

Not only is each one of these seven challenges monumental in themselves, but it is very clear to see that we are approaching a global catastrophe as the crossroads at which they all meet is coming rapidly into view. It will take bold, courageous, unified and selfless action to avert such destruction; the choice to do so is ours, and that decision is ultimately a spiritual one.

These sixteen principles for building a sustainable world community emerged from a twelve year process of reflection, consultation and action within tribal communities across North America. They are rooted in the concerns of hundreds of aboriginal elders and leaders, as well as in the best thinking of many non-aboriginal scholars, researchers, and human and community development practitioners. These principles describe the way we must work together, and what we must protect and cherish. We offer then as a gift to all those who seek to build a sustainable world, and as a foundation for a worldwide consultation process.

We speak as one, guided by Four Worlds’ Principles for Building a Harmonious and Sustainable World the sacred teachings and spiritual traditions of the Four Directions that uplift, guide, protect, warn, inspire and challenge the entire human family to live in ways that sustain and enhance human life and the life of all who dwell on Mother Earth, and hereby dedicate our lives and energies to healing and developing ourselves, the web of relationships that make our world, and the way we live with Mother Earth.

FOUR WORLDS PRINCIPLES FOR BUILDING A SUSTAINABLE WORLD

“Starting from within, working in a circle, in a sacred manner, we heal ourselves, our relationships and our world”.

‘STARTING FROM WITHIN”

Development Comes From Within
The process of healing and development unfolds from within each person, relationship, family, community or nation.

Vision
A vision of who we can becomes is like a magnet drawing us to our potential. Where there is no vision, there can be no development.

Culturally Based
Healing and development must be rooted in the wisdom, knowledge and living processes of our cultures.

Interconnectedness
Because everything is connected to everything else, any aspect of our healing and development is related to all the others (personal, social, cultural, political, economic, etc.). When we work on any part, the whole circle is affected.

“WORKING IN A CIRCLE”

Personal growth and healing and the healing and development of our families and communities must go hand in hand.

Healing
Working at one level of development without attending to the other is not enough. Personal, wholistic, social, and economic development as well as top-down and bottom-up approaches must be balanced.

Unity
We need the love, support and caring of others to heal and develop ourselves. Unity is the starting point for development, and as development unfolds, unity deepens.

Participation
People have to be actively engaged in the process of their own healing and development. Without participation, there can be no development.

Justice
Every person must be treated with respected as a human being and a child of the Creator, regardless of gender, race, culture, religion or any other reason. Everyone should be accorded the opportunity to fully participate in the processes of healing and development, and to receive a share of the benefits.

“IN A SACRED MANNER”

Spirituality
Spirituality is at the heart of healing and development. Connection with the Creator brings life, unity, love and purpose to the process, and is expressed through a heart-centred approach to all that we do.

Harmonizing With Natural Law
Growth is a process of uncovering who we truly are as human beings in harmony with the natural laws of the Universe.

Walking In Balance
Codes or morality, ethics and protocol teach us how to walk the road of life in a good way. Violating moral and ethical boundaries can destroy the process of healing and development.

Working From Principle
Our plans and actions are founded on our deepest understanding of the principles that describe how the universe is ordered and how healing and development unfolds.

“WE HEAL AND DEVELOP OURSELVES, OUR RELATIONSHIPS AND OUR WORLD”

Learning
Learning to live in ways that promote life and health is the essence of our development. Our primary strategy is therefore the promotion of this type of learning.

Sustainability
When we take actions to improve our lives or the lives of others, it is critical to avoid undermining the natural systems upon which all life depends and to work in ways that enhance the capacity of people to continue in the path of their own healing and development.
Move To The Positive
Solving the critical problems in our lives and communities is best approached by visualizing and moving into the positive alternative that we wish to crate, as well as building on the strength we already have, rather than giving away our energy fighting the negative.

Be The Change You Want To See
In all of our actions, we seek to be living examples of the changes we wish to see in the world. By Walking the path, we make the path visible.

With the courage and dedication to utilize the wisdom and guiding spiritual principles of our elders on the path to a peaceful and equitable future, we will find that we have the power and ability to carefully and lovingly remove any barriers that have limited the development of our full potential as human beings and communities. The greater the difficulty in our path, the even greater opportunity for our growth and ultimate victory; we can always become more than we have ever been.

We know from our ancient teachings that the sacred eagle of humanity has two perfectly balanced and harmonious wings; one representing woman, and one representing man. In our relationships as women and men, brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers, we must join together to eliminate all forms of disrespect, mistreatment, or lack of sharing in the responsibility of raising the world’s children. It is my deepest prayer that with every new sunrise, we can recognize more and more that the most sacred and holy of all the wonderful ceremonies and gifts that the Creator has given us is the birth of child, and that everything we can do to provide our children and communities the best possible future is a sacred gift and responsibility.

About

We aim to incorporate:

– an ideas exchange – with various forums for discussion and debate
– resources sections with hyperlinks and actual information material. Potentially an online library with links to specific resources and publications, images, videos, and
– a 'web of hubs’ to sites, organisations and individuals around the world.
It’s a bold dream…we hope you and friends will help it grow…